Garden club seeks to serve the community

The Mt. Airy Garden Club serves the community year-round. Most recently, for the holiday season, members gathered a variety of fresh greens and created swags and wreaths for installation in the town.

U.S. Marine Corps veterans Joe Clemente, Billy Wagner, Harry Wolfe, Breeze Creed and Jack Severn assisted the club in decorating the World War II memorial and chapel at Pine Grove on Main Street in Mount Airy Dec. 5.

Steve Kreimer and Derek Dods, with the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company, aided the club in the installation of the huge Christmas wreath that hangs on the wall outside the library on Ridge Avenue.

The club maintains the landscaping at the historic Pine Grove Chapel and Cemetery, the garden at the Mount Airy branch of the Carroll County Public Library and Mount Airy Senior and Community Center, as well as Vest Pocket Park.

In addition, club members conduct garden therapy activities for long-term care and rehab residents of Lorien Mount Airy, and for special-needs students at Mount Airy Middle School.

"Our meetings are held the third Thursday of each month beginning at 11 a.m., usually held at club members' homes. The Mt. Airy Garden Club participates in flower shows, workshops and has at least one field trip a year," Co-president Lisette Schmitz wrote in an email.

The club does not schedule meetings during July and August, according to Schmitz.

The club is comprised of 24 active members, five associate members and four honorary members.

For more information, call Schmitz at 301-703-8040 or Co-president Carol Phillips at 301-829-1126.

Sunday Singles dance

Sunday Singles offers a dance at the Winfield Fire Hall the second Saturday of each month, except July.

Music is played by DJ Ken or DJ John Repp at each event from 7:30 to 11 p.m.

The music is a mix of top 40, oldies, slow, swing, cha-cha, etc.

The dances are open to anyone 21 or older.

The cost is $10 per person at the door and includes light snacks, water and soft drinks. BYOB.

For more information, call 443-255-5849.

The hall is at 1320 W. Old Liberty Road, Winfield.

Thrift shop serves

The St. James Episcopal Church Thrift Shop, started many years ago, often donates clothing and household items to fire victims, Care Net Pregnancy Center in Frederick, Frederick Rescue Mission, Mt. Airy Animal Hospital, foster families, public schools, Mount Airy Net, Mount Airy Lions Club, Hands of Hope Hospice, Pleasant View Nursing Home and to those in the community experiencing a hardship, including many other organizations, upon request.

The thrift shop gladly accepts donations of clothing and household items that are in good, re-useable condition. The shop cannot accept any type of furniture, mattresses or large appliances as it does not have the space or manpower to accommodate such items.

Store hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The thrift shop is at 234 S. Main St., Mount Airy.

Proceeds from the thrift shop go right back into other church programs for the community.

Call 301-829-0314 for more information.